Ecological Society of America

ECOLOGY RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES: SUMMER 2010

Planning to do ecology research next summer? ESA’s SEEDS program can help you find a research experience!  SEEDS can help match you with a mentor ecologist in your interest area to help guide you through an ecology research project.  In addition to your on-site support, SEEDS offers national peer network and professional development through a series of webinars and conference calls. ESA’s SEEDS program has an exceptional track record of facilitating mentoring among underrepresented undergraduates who are exploring careers in ecology research. This program is made possible with support from the National Science Foundation.

Deadline for ecology enrollment form: November 23, 2009
Target for matching students and mentors: January 15, 2010

What are the benefits?

• Gain a high quality research experience in ecology with a wide selection of opportunities and projects to choose from.
• Receive help in finding a mentor ecologist who is able to feed your ecology interests.
• Begin working with your mentor early on project goals and expectations to get a jump start on your summer field season.
• Receive support from ESA SEEDS throughout this opportunity through periodic conference calls and several webinars designed to help you build critical professional skills.
• Know that ESA SEEDS will also be working with mentors through an initial conference call and webinar.
• Benefit from the larger ESA SEEDS family and our network of peer support and professional development opportunities, such as ESA’s Annual Meeting and the SEEDS Leadership Meeting.

What are the eligibility requirements?

• An undergraduate student with a graduation date no earlier than December 2010.
• Enrollment in a US institution.
• A sincere interest in ecology research.

How does this program work?

Mentors in this partnership are Principal Investigators (PIs) of National Science Foundation (NSF) research projects who are applying for supplemental funding to support undergraduate research.  By beginning the placement process early, prior to the funding decision, PIs can customize their proposal to best respond to students’ research objectives and thus strengthen their proposal.  REU supplemental proposals are due February 1. If you prefer, you can wait for the second round of placement which will occur around March 15, when we anticipate that NSF will have made its decision to award supplemental REUs.

Please note that this is not the same as the NSF REU site program where 10-12 students are provided research experiences. REU supplemental programs are typically offered to only one or two students per project each year.

An REU experience is typically 6-8 weeks of research experience during the summer months at a university or field station, mentored by a research PI and often working with graduate students.

SEEDS will collect information about your research interests and information from project PIs about their supplemental REU projects. SEEDS will facilitate matching students and mentors and offer students some choices of REU supplemental opportunities available based on your research interests.   Students will then directly apply to up to three available REU supplemental opportunities. SEEDS staff will provide input into the selection process. The final decision remains with the PIs.  Please note that SEEDS cannot guarantee student placement in ecology research opportunities.  Placement will depend on two things: (1) finding a suitable opportunity that matches your research interests, (2) and project funding.   

Program Participation Expectations

What do students need to do to participate?

• Complete student enrollment form online by October 31, 2009.
• Give first preference to their project (and PI) match, and discuss options with SEEDS and the PI before accepting any other offer for alternate summer employment or research experiences.
• Discuss student research objectives with PI during the fall.
• Read any background material that PIs may provide during the spring semester.
• Participate fully in the REU during the summer.
• Complete a poster of your research results to be posted on SEEDS website.
• Participate in online discussion of other research posters by students in participating in  2010 supplemental REUs.
• Be responsive to requests for information from ESA.
• Attend conference calls and/or webinars per posted schedule.
• Complete an evaluation after the REU experience.

Additional opportunities when available

• Eligible for travel support to the ESA Annual Meeting in the year after the REU
• Eligible for SEEDS program activities including the SEEDS Leadership Meeting

What are this year’s deadlines?

Who do I contact for more information?

Melissa Armstrong, ESA Diversity Programs Manager
Melissa@esa.org  (928) 214-7301